Opening Up The Files On The Boston Celtics

Celtics Files: Mazzulla, Brown, Springer, Hauser, Other Notes & Takeaways

The Boston Celtics looked a bit rusty with four days off between games, losing to the Chicago Bulls, 117-108, on Thursday in Boston.

In the fourth quarter, the Celtics were issued three technical fouls while chipping away at a potential comeback. It was only a three point game at this point.

Joe Mazzulla received the first technical foul for being too far on the court in an attempt to get clarity from the referee on who should be involved with the jump-ball.

Jaylen Brown didn’t appreciate the quick call on Mazzulla, so Brown told Justin Van Duyne “that wasn’t a technical” which led the two to go back-and-forth, leading Van Duyne to issue a technical foul on Brown.

Jayson Tatum was issued a technical for his classic waiving off, which is almost guaranteed to be a technical at this point in Tatum’s career.

At the end of the game, Mazzulla aggressively ran on the court to get to Van Duyne. He had to be held back by his assistant coaches, Tony Dobbins and Sam Cassell, along with a member of the securtiy team.

Having the privilege of covering and learning Mazzulla, I think that he just wanted an explanation from Van Duyne, man to man.

Here are other news and notes from Boston:

  • Jaylen Brown’s mother’s house was broken into. Brown talked about it during postgame on Thursday, saying “it’s been a tough week. My mother’s security is utmost importance to me and it’s been compromised. It’s been a tough week, I’m not going to lie.”
  • Celtics assistant coach Amile Jefferson’s house was also broken into while the team was in Washington to play the Wizards on Sunday.
  • Luke Kornet arrived to Thursday’s game wearing a Maine Celtics Baylor Scheierman jersey.
  • Sam Hauser missed Thursday’s game with lower back spasms. In October, he said it’s something that just “flared up” and he’s managing it the best he can.
  • Jaden Springer saw rotation minutes for the first time this season against the Bulls on Thursday with Sam Hauser being out of the lineup. He played 13 minutes and had four rebounds. It’s possible that Springer could be the center of a trade package to relieve some salary for Boston down the road. Springer is on the books for $4.2 million.
  • Jaylen Brown postgame on referees using technical fouls as a threat: “You can’t threaten guys with a technical foul. That’s not part of the game either. You want to fine people for gestures and all this stuff- then fine that. We were down three at that time and that led to us being down eight. That affects the game. That could have been avoided. Joe didn’t say anything to deserve a tech.”
  • Payton Pritchard has allowed the fewest points per possession on post-ups in the NBA this season with 0.40.

Boston’s next game is on Saturday against the Bulls in Chicago.

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Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran, The Boston Globe, Getty Images

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